Has marriage become obsolete, or is it just not a priority as much as it once was.

I’d say it depends on your spiritual beliefs. Of course, it doesn’t change the right and wrong of things. If you’re an atheist, I wouldn’t expect you to consider the Christian belief of much ‘value’.

I’m sure each faith has its precepts on the topic. Understandably, there are some atheists who value the traditions of marriage without the ‘spiritual’ aspect.

That said, as a Christian, I will offer you one of several Bible verses making it clear that marriage is not optional or obsolete.

Genesis 2: 22-24

22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Jmho, but, on the secular side, marriage keeps things 'straight'. It keeps the baby-mama drama down, std's less likely, HIV-AIDS numbers down, property rights, etc., etc.

Celibacy is God's ideal; but, He says "it's better to marry than to burn." (1 Corinthians 7:9)

Peace.